Best cities for a secondary school principal
The best cities for secondary school principals are Philadelphia, PA, San Francisco, CA, and Detroit, MI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for secondary school principals vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for secondary school principals in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a secondary school principal or considering a move, this list of the best cities for secondary school principals to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for secondary school principals. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a secondary school principal. While the absolute best city for secondary school principals is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for secondary school principals in 2024.
If you're looking for a secondary school principal job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for secondary school principals in 2025
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total secondary school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $95,421 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. San Francisco, CA
Total secondary school principal jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $119,120 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 5.71 3. Detroit, MI
Total secondary school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $94,336 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Oakland, CA
Total secondary school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $118,903 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Fremont, CA
Total secondary school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $118,420 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. San Jose, CA
Total secondary school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $118,041 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Stockton, CA
Total secondary school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $117,885 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Jersey City, NJ
Total secondary school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $109,474 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Newark, NJ
Total secondary school principal jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $109,420 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Boston, MA
Total secondary school principal jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $105,255 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 7.98
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Best cities for secondary school principals
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Newark, NJ
- Boston, MA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a secondary school principal
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $95,421 | $59,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $119,120 | $77,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | $94,336 | $59,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $118,903 | $77,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $118,420 | $76,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $118,041 | $76,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $117,885 | $76,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $109,474 | $68,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 9 | Newark, NJ | $109,420 | $68,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $105,255 | $67,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $116,781 | $75,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $91,149 | $56,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $96,181 | $60,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 14 | Fort Wayne, IN | $88,848 | $55,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 15 | Madison, WI | $80,519 | $51,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 16 | Fresno, CA | $114,742 | $73,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | $102,484 | $67,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $107,340 | $65,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 19 | Indianapolis, IN | $84,044 | $51,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 20 | Brookhaven, NY | $96,290 | $60,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 21 | Islip, NY | $96,233 | $60,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 22 | Milwaukee, WI | $81,527 | $51,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 23 | Bakersfield, CA | $108,569 | $70,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 24 | Oyster Bay, NY | $96,107 | $60,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 25 | Hempstead, NY | $96,085 | $60,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 26 | New York, NY | $95,951 | $60,000 | 8,537,673 | 1 |
| 27 | Washington, DC | $106,231 | $64,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $100,176 | $64,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 29 | Anaheim, CA | $100,123 | $64,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 30 | Reno, NV | $81,944 | $52,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 31 | Los Angeles, CA | $101,354 | $65,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 32 | Riverside, CA | $99,959 | $64,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 33 | Santa Ana, CA | $99,777 | $64,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 34 | Irvine, CA | $99,483 | $64,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 35 | Cleveland, OH | $76,277 | $47,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 36 | Nashville, TN | $73,642 | $42,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 37 | Buffalo, NY | $93,406 | $59,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 38 | Toledo, OH | $75,054 | $46,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 39 | Saint Paul, MN | $82,419 | $54,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 40 | Columbus, OH | $73,427 | $44,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 41 | Minneapolis, MN | $82,382 | $54,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV | $78,227 | $49,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 43 | Anchorage, AK | $84,761 | $66,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 44 | North Las Vegas, NV | $78,014 | $49,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 45 | Durham, NC | $77,304 | $44,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 46 | Portland, OR | $85,384 | $56,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 47 | Atlanta, GA | $75,808 | $42,000 | 472,522 | 4 |
| 48 | Raleigh, NC | $76,928 | $44,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 49 | San Diego, CA | $96,723 | $62,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 50 | Henderson, NV | $77,315 | $48,000 | 292,969 | - |
Highest paying cities for secondary school principals
| Rank | City | Avg. secondary school principal salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menlo Park, CA | $118,593 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $109,420 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $107,340 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $105,255 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $94,336 |
| 6 | Rochester, NY | $93,933 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $75,808 |
| 8 | Albuquerque, NM | $71,198 |
| 9 | Irving, TX | $60,389 |
| 10 | Birmingham, AL | $54,361 |